24 Boston Society of Natural History 



teristic generosity came to the rescue with a loan but for which the 



genius of Agassiz might never have shone on America or the world. 



Poems were written by Oliver Wendell Holmes and Julia Ward 



Howe for this occasion of which we give the concluding stanzas. 



Bring the white blossoms of the waning year, 



Heap with full hands the peaceful conqueror's shrine 



Whose bloodless triumphs cost no sufferer's tear! 

 Hero of knowledge be our tribute thine ! 



[o. w. H.] 



Seer of the inward vein and outward blossom, 



Master of laws that nurture and control, 

 He learns, dark Mother, in thy hidden bosom, 



The unimagined secret of the soul. 



[j. W.H.] 



The Forty-First Milestone 

 iSyi 



IN this year an important change of policy was inaugurated, on 

 which the present policy of the Society is based. Hitherto, the 

 Society had established a museum, had founded a library ; had held 

 meetings, given lectures, and published scientific papers. What 

 they did was in accordance with the best thought prevailing any- 

 where in such institutions as that of the Society. Members had, 

 however, begun to feel the need for a more scientific and definite 

 orientation of their activities — a compass-bearing by which they 

 could steer their bark on the sea of human knowledge. It was 

 decided to rearrange the contents of the Museum in a scientific 

 method by which the exhibits would rest on a logical background 

 of relationship. Within this reorganization was the decision to form 

 separate New England collections in each department. So we owe 



